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WONDERFULIRELAND.IE
IRELAND
Dun Laoghaire
YERRAGOON.COM
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EXPLORE WITH
ARKLOW TO ABERYSTWYTH
THE CELTIC
SOME PHOTOS OF OUR TRIPS TO
CHALLENGE 2019
WITH THE "BEOURS WITH OARS
We were delighted to act as support boat to the unsinkable unstopable "Beours with Oars"
The 2019 "Beours with Oars" Rowing Team comprised (from left to right) of Paula Spillane, Maria Kelly, Triona Foley, Susan O Donohue, Lesley Wills, Claire Dennehy, Marianne Keane, Bridget Meagher, Marie Walsh, Cathy Buchanan, Elaine Winters, and Anna O Sullivan .... wonderful characters all! Philip Scallan, Oisin Creragh, and Fia O Caoimh provided logistics and support with the help of "Barney the Rib" and Neidin Sailboat.
Ready to go! The Boers awaiting a suitable weather window in Arklow's South Basin.
Claire and Susan flying the flag (and they haven't even left Arklow yet !)
The Celtic Challenge Race 2019.
The bi-annual "Celtic Challenge" Arklow to Aberystwyth Rowing Race is the world's longest true rowing race. Each team of 12 athletes rows the 90 mile sea crossing in relays, comprising of 4 oarspersons, and a cox. Each team must be supported by a "mothership" (that was Neidin), and a heavy transfer rib (that was Barney). The race continues through the hours of darkness, and most teams opt for one-hour rowing shifts, requiring 150 to 180 personnel transfers between boats. A daunting challenge!
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The 2019 "Beours with Oars" Rowing Team comprised of Paula Spillane, Maria Kelly, Triona Foley, Susan O Donohue, Lesley Wills, Claire Dennehy, Marianne Keane, Bridget Meagher, Marie Walsh, Cathy Buchanan, Elaine Winters, and Anna O Sullivan .... wonderful characters all! Philip Scallan, Oisin Creragh, and Fia O Caoimh provided logistics and support with the help of "Barney the Rib" and Neidin Sailboat.
Susan, Claire, and Lesley, modelling the latest in fashion accessories ... Celtic Challenge Medals.
Two little boats out on a big big sea! Running alongside the Beours as they set out from Arklow on their tenacious row across the Irish Sea to Wales. You would like to use terms like "glide effortsly", but rowing is hard work no matter which way you look at it, and crossing 90 miles of sea is a daunting task!
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The bi-annual "Celtic Challenge" Arklow to Aberystwyth Rowing Race is the world's longest true rowing race. Each team of 12 athletes rows the 90 mile sea crossing in relays, comprising of 4 oarspersons, and a cox. Each team must be supported by a "mothership" (that was Neidin), and a heavy transfer rib (that was Barney). The race continues through the hours of darkness, and most teams opt for one-hour rowing shifts, requiring 150 to 180 personnel transfers between boats. We completed a total of 172 crew transfers between boats, many of them through the hours of darkness. A daunting challenge!
Maria, Marianne, Paula, and Cathy line up on the port side in reasiness for transfer.
No. Not leperacy, just blisters, cuts, and weals, from long hours of rowing!
The effect of tides on the route! The red line denotes the "direct line route" but all of the boats followed a "sign wave" route, being washed approximately 8 miles northwards by the incoming tide, and 8 miles southwards by the outgoing tide. Fighting the tide in a rowboat is a fruitless exercise, so the boats point Eastwards (ESE) for the two tidal cycles, and only home in on the desitnation port in the final quarter of the race.
Philip Scallan and his wonderfully impressive rib "Barney" stayed on duty for 21 hours non-stop, organizing crew transfers, and providing safety cover for the longboat !
The "Beours with Oars" West Cork Rowing Team, comprising from left to right of Paula,Maria, Triona, Susan, Lesley, Claire, Marianne, Bridget, Marie, Cathy, Elaine, and Anna.
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Philip Scallan, Oisin Creagh, and Fia O Caoimh behind.
In September of 2019, three of the infamous "Beours with Oars" Rowing Team came to visit us in Dublin. Susan O Donohue, Lesley Willis, and Clare Dennehy aboard "Neidin" racing "Bendemeer" from Dun Laoghaire to the Kish Lighthouse and back. "Neidin" won the outbound leg, while "Bendemeer" won the return passage. Two great days of sailing with lots of banter and rivalry between the two crews. 14 knot winds, and 6 knot boat speeds in moderate seas. 8th September 2019.
Tiny boats on a big big sea. The Beours strike for Wales just behind "Neidin" with 4 oarswomen and a cox. Rowing 90 miles across the Irish Sea is a daunting task !
Susan O Donohue, Lesley Willis, and Clare Dennehy (three of the infamous "Beours with Oars" Rowing Team) aboard "Neidin" racing "Bendemeer" from Dun Laoghaire to the Kish Lighthouse and back. 8th Sept 2019.
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